Yo Dawg, Cleveland Browns’ New Logo Filled With Hidden Symbols Is A Champ
Image via Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are letting the dawg out in a spirited new logo that’s touching base with spectators.
The fresh emblem, featuring a formidable-looking bullmastiff, was the selected design after coming out tops in a poll for fans and players. Created by graphic designer Houston Mark, the ‘dawg’ logo tastefully encapsulates the Browns’ heritage, the intense loyalty of its fanbase, and elements tied to Cleveland.
The Browns’ long-time helmet branding has ignited enthusiasm among sporting enthusiasts. Now, it’s making room for a worthy contender, which will appear on new merchandise and other team applications.
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Mark centered the piece around a bullmastiff dog following an earlier poll by the Browns asking which breed best represented the team. Coming up with the mascot was the easy part—the designer also had to figure out how to celebrate the Cleveland Browns fanbase while upholding the team’s “aggressive, no-nonsense attitude.”
“It was really important for me to honor and respect the history of the fanbase, the championships and the pride that comes with being a fan,” Mark reiterates in a statement.
He managed to somehow not only pull it off but also squeeze eight hidden meanings into the concept.
more than meets the eye ðŸ§ðŸ¦´ pic.twitter.com/iwJ7i1kN6a
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 12, 2023
For one, the tip of the dawg’s right ear bears the silhouette of Ohio, the Browns’ homebase. Secondly, if you look at its nose, you’ll notice the shape of a football—“the mascot has a nose for the game,” explain the Cleveland Browns.
The character’s tag follows the outline of Cleveland Municipal Stadium, with a letter ‘C’ paying tribute to the city. Its center takes the shape of a guitar pick, a reference to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The bullmastiff’s collar has eight fierce spikes, a nod to the Browns finishing champions a total of eight times.
Look below the jowls, and you’ll make out the city’s Hope Memorial Bridge.
It goes without saying that there are also a couple of callbacks to the iconic helmet shell, “hidden in the top right highlight,” and in the center stripe.
🚨 It's here! 🚨
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 15, 2023
The first round of merch featuring our brand new dog logo has dropped. Now's your chance to be one of the first to rock the new look!
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“Our fans have been asking us for a new dawg logo for quite some time, so it made perfect sense for them to select the logo themselves… and they made a great choice,” remarks JW Johnson, the team’s executive vice president and partner.
Mark calls this commission a “dream come true.”
“To see my logo in an NFL stadium, on people’s shirts and people relate this logo to the Browns is the most incredible feeling.”
[via USA Today, Akron Beacon Journal, Cleveland Browns, images via Cleveland Browns]
